Imagine being 900 kilometres away from Nairobi, in a remote and isolated area that suffers from regular bandit attacks, with no mobile network and having to rely on runners to relay information to a centre almost 100 kilometres away.
Until recently, that was the reality for residents of Sabarei, an extremely vast sub‑location in Bole Saru, Dukana sub‑county, Marsabit County.
A Colonial Outpost Holding the Line
Sabarei hosts a colonial‑era police outpost that has survived for close to seven decades, protected by a handful of policemen. Next to the police station is the office and house of Gufu Habane, the Assistant Chief.
This small team is Kenya’s buffer against bandits crossing from Ethiopia, just five kilometres away, and is also tasked with keeping peace among the sporadically feuding Gabbra, Borana, and Daasanach communities.
The Challenge of No Network
Without mobile connectivity, security personnel and government officials at Sabarei faced a herculean task.
“Security information needs to be relayed immediately. In the past with no network, it would really delay and become time barred,” said Assistant Chief Guyu.
Universal Service Fund Brings Signal to Sabarei
With mobile coverage recently made available through the Universal Service Fund (USF) project, government operations and security coordination can now run smoothly.
Voices From the Ground
“We have our security teams here. They are checking along the borders. They are maintaining peace internally here. So, you can imagine, without a phone signal, what that means. In case they need emergency response, what that means. With the network, they’re able to respond, to ask for assistance whenever need be. And that translates to saving lives,” explains Robert Wanderi, a Safaricom engineer involved in the USF project.
A Link to Loved Ones and the World
Beyond security, the newly switched‑on mobile network has given residents of Sabarei a vital link to the outside world—and most importantly, to their loved ones. The joy and peace of mind this connectivity has brought are priceless.
